Final answer:
State government has primary responsibility for writing criminal codes and deciding on the use of the death penalty.
Step-by-step explanation:
The level of government that has primary responsibility for writing criminal codes or deciding if the courts should use the death penalty is state government.
Criminal codes are laws that define crimes and their punishments. The state government, which includes the state legislature, is responsible for creating and enacting these criminal codes. Additionally, state governments also have the authority to decide whether or not to use the death penalty within their jurisdiction.
For example, in the United States, each state has its own criminal code and determines whether or not to allow the death penalty. Some states have abolished the death penalty, while others still utilize it as a form of punishment for certain crimes.
Learn more about Criminal codes and the death penalty